Delivery mechanism.



No. 851,184. PATENTED APR. 23,1907.

- W. SPALGKHAVER. DELIVERY MECHANISM.

APPLIUATION FILED JAN. 27, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

PATBNTED APR. 23, 1907.

W. SPALGKHAVER..

DELIVERY MECHANISM.

- APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 27, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 v "iwmll rH: NORRIS Pa na cu WASHINGIUN, n. c.

uurrnn STATES i arnnr OFFICE.

WILLIAM SPALCKHAVER, OF NEW YORK, N Y., ASSIGN OR TO ROBERT HOE,

OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

DELIVERY IVIECHANlSIVI.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 23, 1907'.

To all 71/71/0711, it 112/151 concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM SPALCK- HAVER, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at New York, county of Kings, and State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in DeliveryMechanisms, fully described and represented in the followingspecification and the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the same.

This invention relates to certain improvements in delivery mechanisms.

In delivery mechanisms, and more especially in that class of deliverymechanisms which are used in connection with printing machines fortaking sheets from the cylinders, there has been employed a plurality ofgripper mechanisms, said mechanisms being supported on and operated byflexible drivers, such, for instance, as chains. These chains operatedto bring the gripper mechanisms successively to the sheet taking pointand after the sheets were taken, to carry them on to the delivery point.These devices are objectionable, however, because the chains operatednot only to cause the movement of the gripper mechanisms but they alsosupported them which. required that the chains be made large and heavyin order to carry the weight of the gripper mechanisms. Furthermore, theweight of the gripper mechanisms caused the chains to sag, so thatdifficulty was experienced in causing the gripper mechanisms to move ina true path. Furthermore, a jumping movement was given the chains inpassing over the sprockets which gave an undue amount of vibration tothe gripper mechanisms. Further, also, the weight of the grippermechanisms on the chains caused them to stretch, so that constantadjustment of the chainswas necessary.

The present invention has for its object to produce an improved deliverymechanism in which one or a plurality of gripper mechanisms may be givena revolving movement, the mechanisms being supported independently ofthe driver by which their movement is efiected.

With this'and other objects in View, the

invention consists in certain constructions and in certain parts,improvements and combinations' as will be hereinafter fully describedand specifically pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

Referring to the accompanying drawings Figure 1 illustratesdiagrammatically in a sectional side elevation so much of a printingmachine as is necessary to an understanding of the invention, saidmachine. having the improved delivery mechanism attached thereto. Fig. 2is a detail plan View on an enlarged scale, and Fig. 8 is a detail sideelevation, partly in section, on an enlarged scale.

Referring to the drawings, in the particu lar machine selected toillustrate the invention, 1 indicates one of a pair of side frames whichmay be of any suitable configuration, the other side frame being aduplicate of the one illustrated and being omitted from the drawings inthe interest of clearness. These side frames, in the particularconstruction shown, serve to support a sheet feeding table 2, and mayalso, if desired, serve to support a sheet receiving table 8.

A cylinder of the printing couple is indicated at 4, this cylinder beingmounted on a shaft 5 suitably journaled in the side frames. The cylinderis provided with the usual sheet carrying portion 6. The parts so fardescribed are or may be of any usual construction.

The improved delivery mechanism which forms the subject of the inventionwill include a suitable guide and, in the best constructions, this guidewill be curved so as to impart a revolving movement to the sheet takingmechanisms to be hereinafter referred to. In the best constructions,,furthermore,

' this guide will consist of two members, one of which is mounted oneach side of the machine, but inasmuch as these members are duplicates,only one of them is shown. The guide may be constructed and mounted inany desired manner. In the particular machine illustrated, the sideframes have formed in one piece therewith, or connected thereto in anysuitable' manner, upper and lower mem bers 7 and 8, these members beingspaced. apart as shown and being connected at one end by an integral cappiece 10 and at the other end by a removable cap piece 11., which may bebolted or otherwise secured to the members. In the space or recessbetween these members 7 and 8 is located an intermediate piece 12,which, in the particular construction shown, is generally elliptical inshape. This piece maybe supported in any desired manner. As shown, it issupported on' bars or rods '13 and 14 which extend across the machinefrom side to side. Any suitable means may be employed for supportingthese rods or bars 13, 14. In the particular construction illustrated,they are supported in bearings 15 which are carried on brackets 16extending from the side frames, one of these brackets being clearlyillustrated in Fig. 2. The space between the members 7 and 8 and theintermediate member 12 forms, as will be readily understood, a curvedguide or pathway.

The sheet taking devices will be mounted on a carriage, the constructionof which may be varied. In the particular machine illustrated, two ofthese carriages are employed, but the number may, of course, be varied.In the construction illustrated, these carriages consist of cross rods17 and 18 connected by end bars 19. The construction will be such thateach carriage will be supported at at least two points on each of theguide members, this forming a very satisfactory construction and one inwhich the carriages are not liable to swing or rock during theirmovement or during the time when the grippers are operated. In the bestconstructions and as shown, the carriages will be supported on the guidemembers by rollers. In the machine illustrated, studs 20, 21 projectfrom each of the end bars, these studs being provided with rollers 22,there being a pair of rollers operating in connection with each of theguide members before referred to.

In the particular construction shown, the stationary aws 23 of thegrippers are mounted on the rod 17 and themovable jaws 24 are mounted ona shaft 25 which is ournaled in the bars 19. A torsion spring 26 may, asis usual, be employed to hold the grippers closed, and the shaft, orshafts 25, when as will ordinarily be the case a plurality of grippercarriages are employed, will be provided with rock arms 27 carrying theusual rollers 28 which operate in connection with the devices foropening the grippers. 'The guide for the gripper carriages consisting asbefore indicated of two members, one on each side of the machine, itwill be seen that the gripper carriages will be entirely supportedthereby and that their movement will be controlled by the guide.

The mechanism for propelling the gripper carriages along the guidewaybefore described may be widely varied, but will, in the bestconstructions, include a flexible driver. In the particular constructionshown, this driver consists of a pair of chains 29, only one, however,of these chains being shown, as the chains and the construction formounting and operating them are duplicated on each side of the machine.The construction for mounting and operating the chains may be variedwithin wide limits. As shown, each chain is mounted on a pair ofsprockets 30, 31, these sprockets being supported on the cross rods 13,14 before referred to. The driving mechanism for the sprockets may be ofany suitable character, and the power for driving them may be derivedfrom any suitable source. As shown, the cylinder 4 is provided with agear 32 which imparts motion to a gear 33 mounted on a cross shaft 34suitably supported in the frame. This cross shaft 34 carries on each ofits ends a gear 35, only one of these gears being shown. These gears 35mesh with interm'ediates 36 which in turn mesh with gears 37, said gearsbeing bolted or secured in any other suitable manner to the sprockets30.

flexible drivers and the gripper carriage or carriages, when more thanone is employed, may be of any suitable construction. As shown, thechains are provided with socket pieces 38, which socket pieces, in theparticular construction illustrated, form special links in the chains.These socket pieces are engaged by pins 39 which, in the particularconstruction shown, are formed as extensions of the studs 21.

The means for opening the grippers at the sheet taking point and openingthem again at the sheet delivery point may be of any suitableconstruction. As shown, stationary cams 40 and 41 are employed for thispurpose, these cams being located so as to strike the rollers 28 and thearms 27. After the cams have opened the grippers to take the sheet, thegrippers are closed, in the particular construction illustrated, by thesprings 26.

It will be readily understood that in the construction as described thegripper carriage or carriages, where more than one is employed, areentirely supported in the guideway and their movement is controlledthereby. The flexible driver is, therefore, entirely relieved of allduty except that of propelling the gripper carriages along the guideway,so that it may be made light. Furthermore, all the difficulties whichhave been referred to caused by the gripper mechanisms being carried bythe flexible driver are avoided, a true The driving connections betweenthe and even movement of the gripper carriages throughout their pathbeing scoured.

While the construction described embodies the invention in its bestform, it will be understood that changes and variations may be madetherein without departing from the invention.

It is to be further understood that while constructions embodying theinvention are particularly adapted for use in connection with printingmachines they may be employed in other relations.

What is claimed is 1. In a delivery mechanism, the combination with acarriage, of a guide comprising guide.

tion with a carriage comprising cross bars two parallel membersconstructed to impart a revolving movement to the carriage, means forsupporting said carriage at at least two points on each guide member,and a flexible driver for propelling the carriage around the guide.

2. In a delivery mechanism, the combination with a carriage, of a curvedguide con sisting of two parallel members constructed to impart arevolving movement to the guide, rollers for supporting the carriage onthe guide members, there being at least two rollers for each guidemember, a gripper mechanism mounted on the carriage, and a flexibledriver for propelling the carriage around the 3. In a deliverymechanism, the combinaand end bars, of a curved guide comprising twoparallel membersconstructed to impart a revolving movement to thecarriage, a pair of rollers running on each guide member, connectionsbetween each pair of rollers and the end bar, a gripper mechanismsupported on the carriage, and a flexible driver for propelling thecarriage around the guide.

4. In a delivery mechanism, the combination with a carriage comprising apair of l cross bars and end bars, gripper members i mounted on thecarriage, a rock shaft mounted on the end bars and carrying cooperatinggripper members, means for operating the shaft, a curved guidecomprising a pair of parallel members constructed to impart a revolvingmovement to the carriage, means for supporting the carriage on theguide, and'a flexible driver for propelling the carriage around theguide.

5. In a delivery mechanism, the combination with a carriage comprising apair of cross bars and end bars, gripper members mounted on thecarriage, a rock shaft mounten on the end bars and carrying cooperatinggripper members, means for operating the shaft, a curved guidecomprising a pair of parallel members constructed to impart a revolvingmovement to the carriage, two pairs of rollers for supporting thecarriage on the guide, and a flexible driver for propelling the carriagearound the guide.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM SPALCKHAVER.

Vvitnesses F. W. H. CRANE, LOUIS RoEHM.

